Smallest Jeep grows up

The Jeep Wrangler, long admired by offroad fanatics for its rugged construction and its direct link to the original 4x4, the 1941 Willys MB Jeep, comes in for the most significant revision in its history this year. It promises to make the fringe-playing SUV a much more sensible proposition for UK drivers.Though it's always been a favourite of fun-loving free will advocates who can afford its high running costs and limited cabin space, the Wrangler has never sold in large numbers here because of its range of thirsty petrol engines and its two-door body design. The new model, due in showrooms in the summer, will be sold as a four-door model called the Wrangler Unlimited as well a two-door, and will be offered with a four-cylinder turbodiesel engine too.Prices on the updated Wrangler have just been announced. They range from £17,995 for a two-door 2.8-litre CRD Sport manual model, up to £23,075 for the range-topping four-door SRD Sahara automatic. However, an entry-level four-door diesel will cost you just £19,995; that's a fiver less than an equivalent Honda CR-V.Don't expect the Wrangler to be anywhere near as refined to drive on the road as the Honda, but it should be as capable offroad as almost any other 4x4 you could mention, and more charcterful than many too.